Ever smashed your finger in a door? Imagine an adrenaline rush just before that (assuming you know you are going down) then magnify the pain by however many injuries you get.
Location: Hampton Roads, now I need a potato gun to hit another country with a rock.
Posts: 1,598
This is only an assumption, but the first time I crashed, when I stood my bike up, it felt like I just threw my first born out the window of a moving car. Or how I interpret it would feel like. Felt like it the second time too.
__________________ 2005 Honda 919
If you bite the hand that feeds you, it won't taste as good as the food you were fed.
PGR #120827
Xbox Live: BDong625 / www.myspace.com/darkace625
Happens too fast to prepare for it or even know it is coming. Been down twice, both were due to flippin invisible road hazards.
1st cost my F2 lots in plastic, brake lever, bar end, foot brake lever, turn signal and exhaust...It sucked. Sore shoulder for a week.
2nd was just a very slow low side...couple scuffs and a torn glove and jacket. No injuries...Just ticked off
My .02 ... I always tell potential riders that are looking into motorcycles. It's not a matter of "if" you go down...It's "when" your go down. Wear you gear!!! Unfortunately, It's gonna happen at some point throughout your riding time.
The Mrs. and I wear out all afternoon 2up yesterday...Got in 100 miles.
Rode down to the Ocean front just to peake around and then out in the country. It amazes me at how many riders and their passengers are out there riding in shorts, flip flops, tank tops, etc.
I saw a guy yesterday. Wound up directly behind him at a light. Short sleave shirt, chest protector, gloves, pants, helmet and tennis shoes ( oh ya...And for Mike, Snik and Simpson...He was headed to "The Spot" He turned right into the BP to hang with all the other "Cool" riders)
So what exactly is the chest protector gonna do for the guy when he goes down...Cause his shoulders and arms are sure gonna take a beating! I guess his back and chest will be ok
I think he was just tryin to look cool and show off his tats...He had a very nice flat center rear tire and about 2.5" of strips on each side I guess he's a master at the burn out
Well the first real get off I had happened so quick it was just like, Oh crap, then I'm rolling down the road at 40 mph, feel a few hot spots in the gloves and jacket as the pavment is burning through, legs are just flopping around. No real pain at the time, thanks helmet since I went face first into the pavment.
When I finally did stop the adrenaline was pumping so fast and hard that I actually tried to pick the bike up... Got home and couldn't move for almost 2 weeks. The worst was the knees, as they were healing up and every time I would take a step you could just feel the skin re-ripping open and tearing. I would sit on the couch and just open and close my leg every so often just so that I wouldn't lose mobility. When I woke up each morning it took about 15 minutes of pain to extend and bend my knees that I could move for the day. If the humidity goes up the scars just ache, still after a year of healing.
So yeah, its not the initial fall that sucks, its the recovery IMHO.
It is a kinda surreal moment, because you realize what is happening and you are just a passenger at that point.
Biggest issue I have had (and mine was a slow speed lowside about 1 year ago after 10 years of riding) is the "flashback" going into a corner and getting the overanxious feeling that "oh no, this might be it again." Once that happenes, it is time to stop for a few, regather your thoughts, then continue on at a slightly less aggresive pace.
Mental blocks are hard to concour sometimes....at least for my feable mind....
__________________
Shawn
2004 Triumph Speed Triple SE (Speedy - Street Bike)
2002 Suzuki GSX-R600 (Shamu - Track Bike)
I'm sure it is different feelings, depending on the situation. If you see it coming, its gotta feel different than if you go down unexpectedly. Mine was an unexpected lowside on a bit of gravel in a corner, I was leaned way over and then before I new it the front end washed out and my 954 is sliding in front of me on the pavement. As the Canyon roads I ride usually have very little to no run off before a steep drop my thoughts were, Please don't go over the edge, please stop, Please stop. After that I was mad at myself mostly.
Ironically as I rode back to town at a stoplight some guy pulled up next to me at a stop light on the still pristine right side, rolled down his window and said, "Nice looking Bike", I said thanks, but it made me even more mad at myself at the damage I had done on the other side.
__________________
"He was a wise man who invented Beer"--Plato
I've not crashed on the street, but tossed my share of dirtbikes and a trackbike a couple of times. Never been hurt bad, so the extent of it was always "How's the bike?". It hurts to see your baby sliding, tumbling and ripping itself to pieces.
__________________
"Towards the end of the vid, it looks like she may have had a bafflectomy." - MarylandMike
Crashing actually gets a bit humorous. Let me explain. Thankfully, I've never blacked out from a crash. But, have been busted up something good on more than one occasion.
A good highside just totally sucks and a good lowside only sucks when you run into something while in a nice slide!
After a few experiences. The panic somewhat goes away. You learn to will yourself through a situation and when it gets FUBAR'd ... then the "oh shiet, how much is this one going to hurts" starts going through your head in ultra slow motion! Time just stands still.
I remember my last highside. It felt like it was taking forever! Finally hit the ground ... knocked the wind out of me ... things went dark for a bit ... when the earth stopped moving ... I opened my eyes to a shieldless helmet ... trying to catch my breath ... not much pain, yet ... you learn after a few of these to slowly try to move your limbs ... know better than to try and hop up ... the real pain sets in after the adrenaline has gone down!
__________________ It's better to have loved and lost than live with the psycho for life!
my experience is it is pretty surreal as it happens, one of those moments that happens in less then a blink of the eye but it seems like slow motion to you as it happens. The adrenaline hits you so fast you have no idea whats wrong at that moment. When I crashed my bike a couple summers ago I was about halfway home after crashing before I realized I was missing half the skin on my forearm and the muscle was there for everyone to see as I rode home, although I got off fairly easy in my opinion I learned my lesson the hard way about wearing protection every time.
__________________
I Don't try to explain to people why I ride a motorcycle
"For those who understand, no explanation is needed.
For those who don't understand, no explanation is possible."
First thought was oh shit and second was to look at my speedo to see how fast I was going right before I hit the pavement. Nail took out my rear tire right before a corner and I low slid going about 50 mph. Thank God for leathers! Only had about $250 in damage and my jacket was still usable. The sliders took most of the beating but did wear through my stator cover and broke a steering lock tab on the triple tree. I was bruised but the biggest pain was explaining what happened to my wife who hates the fact that I ride...
__________________
In 1915 T. Roosevelt said, in a speech to the KofC, "There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism. When I refer to hyphenated Americans, I do not refer to naturalized Americans. Some of the very best Americans I have ever known were naturalized Americans, Americans born abroad. But a hyphenated American is not an American at all. "
You about enough time to say to yourself, oh shit, before you hit the pavement. It all happens so fast and besides the soreness and the bruises the worst part is damage on your bike. I felt so bad and just kept saying to myself I can't believe I f**ked up my motorcycle. I was about 25 minutes from home when I went down and riding a banged up bike is a little un-nerving as well.
The thing you are most thankful for after is definitely your gear.
Its been nearly long enough to forget my get off in 1988.
I was belting down the highway at about 75 mph, when I hit this mound of tarmac that heavy trucks had squished out of the road. Well, I hit it before I knew it, left the road, came down on another lump, and in the blink of an eye the bars had gone through three worsening occilations, till at 75mph I had full lock to the left. The next thing I know I'm sitting on a motorcycle that has tried to perform 90 degrees of a barrel roll three feet above the road, and I still sitting on it, and hanging on to the bars.
I touched down on my right side, and instantly the back of my right hand glove turns to vapour, as does the right knee of my pants, and right elbow and shoulder of the jacket. Somehow I keep my new Shoei helmet off the road!
Next thing I'm sliding down the road and become aware of hot spots being generated, so I deliberately throw myself into a 'rolling carpet' and roll down the road, seeing fleeting glipses of sky and tarmac. I'm also aware of my bike grinding itself down the road in front of me. And before I even come to a stop 70 meters down the road I get an ants eye view of the driver of the car that was following me move in to the other lane and drive around me. And he kept on going and never stopped!
Anyway, I stop, get up check for injuries and bits missing, and I'm all there, except for where my gear got chewed through, but nothing a bandaid wouldn't fix. So I go pick my bike up, has a bent foot brake lever, but still works, and a bent and ground down front brake lever and bar end, and the indicator and fairing is ground down and through in parts. But it starts first pop, and I ride away.
P.S. Wasn't all bad. Where I was living I got heaps of sympathy from one of the girls I was sharing with, and she gave me some 'remedial massage' of my sore parts, and some very good loving. Nearly motivated me to go fall down some more!
__________________ Growing old is compulsory. Growing up is optional.
My last get off was on a buddy's dirt bike., that I wasn't very familiar with...I was going into a corner WAY too fast at about 45mph and couldn't hold the line, so I dropped the bike and slid out. I was wearing jeans and a field jacket, and those got pretty torn up. I got a few scrapes and bruises but was ok otherwise...better gear would have helped a lot! a plenitude of cursing later and a few new bits for my buddie's bike, and everything was ok again.
My Big One was getting creamed by a cage while going through a 3-way intersection. I got t-boned on my right side and my right lower leg was smashed...My bike fell one way, and I tumbled over the car's hood and onto the sidewalk...If my leg hadn't been broken, I would have landed on my feet in a kind of "Ta-Daa!" motion...as things were I landed squarely on my fundament looking at the bones poking out of my leg. MAJOR adrenaline rush!
The odd thing to me was that I stayed composed...I was the calmest person there! of course there was the insta-crowd of looky-loos freaking out and hoping to see some gore, so I told someone to call me an ambulance (in light of the ambulance bill, I should have called a taxi instead). I felt oddly distant from the pain, but I knew it was there. I started getting tunnel vision, and could tell I was going into shock, so I got a bystander to help me straighten out my leg so that i could lay back and wait for the emt's to get there. I was doing fine pain-wise until well after getting to the hospital...but then with surgery and the recovery after that, the pain was less than good. All in all, I wouldn't recommend the experience to anyone...the good news for me is that with the metal rod in my leg, I won't be breaking it again...might bend it, but wont break it...Sadly, my bike didn't survive the experience. It was a total loss
__________________
Well, fire the engines! Spur this iron space-pony on!
Once you realize you're actually crashing everything goes into slow motion. The entire accident only takes a second or two, but it feels like 30 seconds and all kinds of thoughts run through your head in that 1-2 seconds.
A couple summers ago I was riding home around midnight and a car ran a stop sign and pulled out in front of me. I remember thinking "Is this guy going to stop or not?" "OH S#!T This guy is NOT stopping" I hit both brakes, but at 35 mph, the distance between you disappears in an instant. I hit the front fender and flew over the car, thinking "Oh my god, I'm upside down... I'm doing a complete flip in the air... man this is gonna hurt!"
I landed past the car on my back and was in and out of consciousness. I remember not being able to breath for a long time, and seeing my bike laying on it's side with it's lights still on, and glass and plastic scattered all over the intersection. Then I remember a woman standing over me telling me not to move, and yelling at someone to call 911. About the time I was able to start breathing normally again I remember a firetruck pull up and the paramedics asking me questions.
The adrenaline was flowing and I really didn't feel any pain so I told them that I just had the wind knocked out of me and I got to my feet. I called my friends that were just down the street and they came to the scene and dragged my bike to the side of the road.
I talked with them and the police officer for about 20 minutes and the adrenaline started to slowly wear off. I started to feel the scrapes and bruises, and my jewels were starting to ache and swell (I dented the tank when I racked myself on impact). My friends took me to the ER and I could no longer stand up straight or sit down due to the swelling and the pain. They did an ultrasound and found a ruptured testicle and admitted me for surgery to remove it. Not fun!
Ride safe and always wear your gear!
My last crash [knockonwood] was in my second WERA race last year at VIR. I had been chasing fourth place around for about half the race to the point where I could show him a wheel in a few places, but never where I could pull a good enough drive to get past him and walk away. I decided to try that move on the exit of turn 17 leading on to the front straight. There are two lines you can take through this turn; the high line, or the low. It is called the hog pen because it sits at the lowest level of the track and I believe there was actually a hog pen there before the track was opened.
First, I should describe the track condition where this took place. Through all the races that have been run on the north track, this turn has taken the worst beating. All of the cars and bikes are barreling down the roller coaster of turns 14-16 angling for position on 17 and 17(a) for the good drive on the front straight. When the cars reach the bottom of the dip, they bottom out their suspension and it digs some nasty grooves out of the track surface. As you can imagine, this does absolutely no good for the traction on a bike. Most of the grooves are cut into the mid/lower section of the track, so it is a little sketchy down there, but you can get one helluva good exit if done right.
Most bikes take the high line to stay clear of the grooves and maintain traction. I opted for taking the low line and getting the better drive out. I opted wrong.
Exiting T17 is pushing 100mph+ depending on the bike and skill level of the rider. I remember looking down right before she let go and I was at 96mph. I was down too low in the turn, knee already sliding/pushing and wringing the sh*t out of the throttle. Fourth place was going to be mine as soon as I straightened the bike up and clicked up a gear. Right about then is when the rear tire started to walk itself towards the edge of the track. Spinning up the rear and knee down already, I had left myself no room for error. I tried my best to stand the bike up enough to catch a little traction and hope it held. It did not.
The bike disappeared from underneath me in a stupidly fast slide. I was on my right side and sliding towards the grass. All should have been well and good to slide it out, get back up and pray for minimal damage to the bike and me. Then we found the curb gator and both bike and I launched off of it. The bike immediately tumbled side-over-side. I followed an almost identical trajectory. Sliding along the grass, all I could think of was to give thumbs up to the corner worker as he was making his way towards me. I finally stopped sliding and tumbling after about 60 yards and jumped up. The bike was toast and would not start. I waited for the race to finish and crossed the track. The crash truck did not pick up my bike until late that day, so I really had no idea how much damage was done until much later.
No injuries at all to me and I just had some lingering stiffness in my muscles and joints for the next couple of days. Full leathers, back/chest protector, boots gloves and helmet all paid for themselves ten times over that day. Wear your gear, it will save your life!
everyone has pretty well detailed the feeling. Mine was no different. The only thing I would add to the above is the sounds, everything slows down and you become aware of everything,then the sudden silence. 2 seconds before the scream of your engine was drumming in your ears, then all of a sudden you hear the gravels as you slide, the "thunk" of your helmet striking the pavement, the scraping and breaking of the bike, the dirt and pebbles hitting you as you rolling. Then the deafening quiet as the adrenaline starts to pump, and your brain tries to make sense of what just happened. Somehow, ALL these thoughts happen exactly at the same time; Why am I not breathing? (I had wind knocked out). Where am I? Am I ok? Why is it so quiet? Did anyone see that? Oh shiet! Is the bike ok? Will I be able to ride home? Can I move? Finally THANK GOD I WAS WEARING MY GEAR!
The second series of thoughts goes like this: Can I get cell service out here? Where is my cell phone? Will I be able to stand the bike up by myself? Am I REALLY OK? where's my visor? Holy crap! Holy Crap! Holy Crap! THANK GOD I WAS WEARING MY GEAR!
Lastly: if it's was not life threatening and you finally get home to survey the damage your last series of thoughts are; "Wait til I tell the guys at Wrist Twisters! Then you start composing your new thread to post"
Finally you FEEL the pain of the crash the rest of week everytime to try to sit down at your computer to read all the comments, advice, and well wishes sent by everyone on WT only to reafirm once again THANK GOD I WAS WEARING MY GEAR!
__________________
There's your plan and then there's God's plan.........
Your's doesn't matter.
Of all the bad things that have happened in my life i would only wish to change 1 thing and that is my crash in 01. still have problems to this day but enough about that. crashing (i'm not talking about low siding it) is not a good thing. not even the hot nurses giving you a sponge bath makes up for it!
__________________
UT VIVANT ALII...SO OTHERS MAY LIVE
my internal voice was yelling, "Sh_t!! COMMAND Z... COMMAND Z!!!!"
(my internal voice is a Mac )
Good one! for us computer geeks... when I go down - since it is when not if... I'll be thinking about this post!
__________________
Temecula, CA (So Cal)
06-919
Too often we lose sight of life's simple pleasures.
Remember when someone annoys you, that it takes 42 muscles in your face to frown ...
But it only takes 4 muscles to extend your arm and bitch-slap that mother- upside the head...
I'm usually a here on the forum, reading over sbeau's shoulder but I joined the crash club yesterday. I really can't add anything to the above posts, slow mo, surreal, adrenaline....yup, that's what it feels like. I definitely know I wouldn't have continued on a 300mi ride if it weren't for our Wrist Twister buddies. Thanks to them all, this is a great bunch of people. Adrenaline rush ROCKS, I wish that I had the strength to pick up a 400# Hornet by myself all the time. Speaking of all the time, the little voices are in my head, ATGATT.
meh...i have crashed several times, and i never got any of this sympathy lovin or anything. what the crap? i don't care for crashes, i hurt, i've broken an ankle AND a knee, so i've slowed down some and have learned to enjoy the ride and the return home!
__________________
30,000 mile 919 survivor. No plans of stopping the abuse any time soon.
my crash felt like heaven..hit a back of a truck doing 90 mph...slid about 150 feet on my back and walked off the highway wearing no protective gear just a full face..few stitches on one elbo and that was it....what a great feeling being able to walk off the highway
__________________
dont need a bike to ride the fast lane
It feels surreal. The split moment when I departed the motorcycle felt like it was a few seconds long. Everything slowed down for that moment and I was able to think "Is this really happening? How is this going to go down? Am I going to break something? If I miss tonights episode of The Office I'm going to be PISSED!"
Then when I hit the pavement and started rolling things sped up and I hardly remember it until I was stopped.
I felt no pain. I picked up my motorcycle with no effort at all and push started it(it was my Honda NSR250 so not much effort was needed anyways, ha) and went on. About 15 seconds later my whole body started to ache as the rush wore down.
I was coming back from the gym wearing leather gloves, helmet, shorts and a tanktop. That hurt. Still have scars on arm from where you could see the bone at my elbow, yay.
my crash felt like heaven..hit a back of a truck doing 90 mph...slid about 150 feet on my back and walked off the highway wearing no protective gear just a full face..few stitches on one elbo and that was it....what a great feeling being able to walk off the highway
secondchance... probably won't be around to be called thirdchance if you do that again.
( oh ya...And for Mike, Snik and Simpson...He was headed to "The Spot" 
)
...
upside the head...
here on the forum, reading over sbeau's shoulder but I joined the crash club yesterday. I really can't add anything to the above posts, slow mo, surreal, adrenaline....yup, that's what it feels like. I definitely know I wouldn't have continued on a 300mi ride if it weren't for our Wrist Twister buddies. Thanks to them all, this is a great bunch of people. Adrenaline rush ROCKS, I wish that I had the strength to pick up a 400# Hornet by myself all the time. Speaking of all the time, the little voices are in my head, ATGATT. 
Linear Mode
Chevy Camaro Forum
Ford Mustang Forum
Jeep Wrangler Forum
Volkswagen Touareg Forum
Land Rover Defender Forum
